Metal-folding machine



Dec. 1924. 1,520,419

L. E. JONES METAL FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Dec. 24- 1,520,419

-L. E. JONES METAL FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2swam Lick:

paw/WW L. E. JONES METAL FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1923 5Sheets-Sheet 3 1,520,419 L. E. JONES METAL FOLDING MACHINE Filegl March5, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 3, 1924. 1,520,419

L. E. JONES MET AL FOLDI NG MACHINE Filed March 5, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5l WNW Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

STATES FFICE.

LAIBAN ELLSWORTH J ONES, OF ANACONDA, MONTANA.

METAL-FOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed March 3, 1923. Serial No. 622,601.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LABAN ELLSWORTH J ONES, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Anaconda, in the county of Deerlodge and State ofMontana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Folding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This application relates to apparatus for making metal roofing strips orshingles, and more particularly to apparatus for making roofing stripsor shingles of the type described in the Patent No. 1,428,169 granted toLaist and Jones, Sept. 5, 1922.

t is the general object of the invention to provide a metal foldingmachine which 1s simple in construction and operation.

it is anotner particular object to provide a machine in which alloperations are carso ried out simultaneously in a single stroke.

The principles of operation on which the invention is based, and theadvantages resuiting therefrom will be apparent from the description inconnection with the appended drawings, and the points of novelty will beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross section of a machine embodying the invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detail views, partly in section, showing so much ofthe mechanism as is necessary to make one fold;

Figs. and 6 are detail views, partly in section, showing so much of themechanism 35 as is necessary to make a second fold;

l igs. 7 and 8 are detail views showing so much of the mechanism as isnecessary to making a third fold;

Fig. 9 is a detail view, partly in section, of so much of the mechanismas is necesto make a fourth fold;

Figs. 10 and 11 are a plan view and a sectional View, respectively, ofan arrangement forming an important detail of the machine; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a shingle formed.

The shingle 32 shown in Fig. 12 fairly indicates the general characterof roofing strips or shingles formed by the apparatus constituting thesubject matter of this invention.

The shingle 32 has four folds, 34, 35, 86 and 37. The fold 34 representsthe lower or butt end, and the fold the upper end of a shingle, whilethe folds 36 and 37 are the side folds.

The upper fold contains a portion 35 which is nailed to the sheathingand the interspace 35 receives the portion 34 of the butt fold of thenext higher shingle. The side folds 36 and 37 are turned in oppositedirections, as is well understood.

Having reference to Fig. 1, a frame 10 supports the operating mechanismincluding a stationary table 11 and a stationary superstruction 12.

The operating mechanism essentially comprises four distinct partsdisposed substantially at right angle to each other in quadrangularrelation to fold the four edges of a metal strip which is placed uponthe table 11. Generally stated, the operating mechanism includes meansfor automatically positioning a metal strip in a definite relation tothe table, and the folding elements, and means for automaticallyejecting the folded strip.

The feeding and ejecting mechanisms are so correlated that a strip isfed into position while a folded strip is ejected. As indicated in Fig.1, two cams 13 and 14 are mounted in juxtaposition on the same shaft 15,and are engaged by the arms 16 and 17 of a compound lever mounted on ashaft 18, and having an arm 19. The two cams are complementary to eachother and so shaped as to positively rock the arm 19 forth and backduring a small interval of the angular movement of the shaft 15, and tomaintain the arm 19 at rest during the greater part of the said angularmotion.

The arm 19 is connected by means of pivoted links 20 and 21 to a rockshaft 22 to which are keyed, or otherwise rigidly connected, arms 23.The arms 23 are spaced along the shaft 22, but have the same angularrelation thereto. To the free ends of the arms 23 are pivotallyconnected rods 24 and 25, respectively. The rods 2% are pivotallyconnected to ejector elements, preferably rods or fiat strips 26,extending through channels 27 in or below the upper surface of table 11.The rods 25 are pivotally connected to runners 28 having slidingmovement in guide slots, preferably near the opposite edges of the feedtable 29 which is supported on a frame 30. The runners 28 have ashoulder 28 projecting upwardly above the plane of the feed table 29 vtobear against a strip 31- ofmetal and push it to the left into positionupon the table 11 In the position of the operating mechanism shown inFig. 1, a. roofing strip '32 has just been finished and is about to beejected; Theejection-is effected by movement of the elements 26 againstthe folded portion34 of" the strip 32. The arms 16 and lf'lare about: topass intothe receding portion 13 andv over the projection 14 of the cams13 and 14,respectively, and the resulting angular movement of the arms16 and 17 is translated to the ejecting elements 26, and the runners 28througharm 19, links 20Iand 21, arms 23 and rods 24 and 25.

Oneof the essential parts of the folding mechanism is a former plate 33best shown in Fig. 11. This plate has generally the purpose to hold thesheet of metal to be folded; down. upon table 11, and is alsoinstrumental in the formation of the folds 35 and 36 (see Figs. 3 and 8)as will be pointed out. The fold 34 previously re ferred to and the fold37 effected upon projections 38 and 39, respectively, of table 11 (seeFigs. 5.and 9). The former plate 33(see Figs. 10 and 11 has upon itsupper surface socket elements 40, into which extend .crank pins 41 atthe end of two crank levers 42, which in turn are mounted at the lowerends of vertical shafts 43 and 44. The shaft 43 is mountedv in thestationary frame 12, and is actuated by a lever 45 which through roller46, engages a cam slot 47 of a cam 48. The cam 48 is mounted uponshaft15 which also carries the cams 13 and14. The crank pins 41 in theposition shown in Fig. 11 extend only part way into the socket elements40 so that the plate 33 may have upward motion. Tension springs 49connected at one end to the frame 12 tend to lift the plate When theclamping frame 50, which has the functionv to clamp the former plateupon the table 11 during part of the operating cycle, is raised,

the springs raise the former plate free of the shingle formed.

However. since two of the edges of the former. plate are overlapped bythe folds and 36, the former plate'therefore'must first be moved in itsown plane in diagonal direction, as shown in Fig. 10. This isaccompli'shed by the interaction of the cam 48 and the lever 45; In theposition indicated. in Fig. 10, the .curvein the cam slot47 isabout toswing the lever 45 and with it the crank arms 42 to the dotted lineposition. The shape of the cam slot is such as to swing the former plateclear of the overhanging folds 35 and 36. WVhen the edges of the formerplate are cleared, the springs 49 pull the plate up as far as therelativemovement between the socket elements40 and the crank pins 41permits.

The angular relation between the cam 48 and"the"c'ams 13" and 14' issuch that the movement ofthe plate 33 to the dotted line position takesplace just before the ejecting operationv and" the feeding operationcommence. The action of springs 49 is of course instantaneous, and-theplate 33- is at once returned to its previous position. As soon as thenew sheet31 has reached its final position, the clamping frame 50 isreturned to its clamping position, and forces former plate 33 upon thenew sheet against the tension of springs 49. Thesliaft44 is mounted inframe 12 and moves with shaft 43 as isunde-rstood, The arms 42 and theirconnections With plate 33 form a parallel motion arrangement tofacilitate the clearing of the plate 33 and its accurate return to theoriginal position,

As soon as the plate 33 is in clamping position, the folding mechanismenters into action to substantially simultaneously form the folds. i

Fig. 2 shows the relation of the new sheet 31 upon the table 11 justafter it has reached its final position and beforethe former plate 33and-the clamping frame 50 have returned to clamping position; Upon thecrank 51 is pivotally mounted a crimper plate 52 whichisreciprocated'thereby. Fig. 2 shows the c'rimper plate in its retractedposition, its front. edge resting uponthe'table 11. Just as the plate 52starts upon its forward stroke, the plate 33 and the clamping frame 50come down upon the plate 31, and securely hold it in position. Duringthe movement of the crank 51 the crimper plate comes in contact with theroller 53, and is.

thereby tilted upwardly whereby the edge portion of, the sheet 31 whichprojectsbeyond the edge of the former plate is bent and. forms abightbetween the edge of the former plate and the stationary portion 56.Continued forward movement of the crimper plate 52 tends to force thebight portion into the space between the stationary portion 56, theclamping frame 50 and the former plate'33. At the same time a settingpunch 57 descends and forces the upper bight portion upon the crimperplate which in the meantime reaches its extreme forward position, andacts itself as a former plate, as I indicated in Fig. 4. The punch thenrises again, and the crimper plate is retracted.

1 The butt end of the shingleisformed by the co-cperation of acrimperplate 58 and a vertical crimper punch 59 upon the projec tion 38 of thetable 11. The crimper plate 58 has at its rear end a guide frame 58defining a guideway 60 whereby the plate has free sliding movement onthe crank shaft 61, and at the same time pivotal movement about it. Aconnecting rod 62 on the crank 63 is pivotally connected to the crimperplate 58 through a depending portion 64. The connecting rod 62 has adepending cam portion 65 co-operating with a roller 65 to lift the rodand with it the crimper plate. The cam is beveled at its rear face toallow the front end of the crimper plate to grad.- ually fall after ithas reached its highest position.

The edge of the sheet 31 projects beyond the edge of the projection 38.The crimper plate is moved forwardly and at the same time rises untilits edge overlies the projecting part of the sheet 31, and then descendsto force the edge of the sheet down. At the same time the crimper punch59 descends and forces the sheet portion into close contact with the endface of the projection 38. The crimper plate 58 has at its front end adepending bar 66 which has a lower surface 66 substantially parallelwith the plate and an upwardly beveled front face 66 The surface 66 andthe beveled face 66 cooperate with a stationary element 67 having ahorizontal surface 67 and a beveled face 67 to support the crimpingplate 58 for movement in horizontal direction near the end of the strokeand finally press the crimping plate against projection 38. The edgeportion of the metal sheet 31 is thus bent sharply along the upper edgeof the projection 38, and again along the lower edge thereof. Thecrimper plate 58, the portion 66 and the stationary part 67 are socorrelated that the plate 58 just passes below the projection 38. Thecrimper punch 59 moves downwardly until its bottom surface is flush withthe lower surface of the projection 8 it thereby not only effects thebending of the metal sheet along the upper edge of the projection 38,but also positively moves the crimper plate downwardly and thus forms aguide for the latter.

The bottom surface of the crimper pun-ch 59 is beveled rearwardly toprevent an interlocking f the punch and the plate 58 during theirrelative movement. To the punch 59' are also attached fender plates 68having beveled bottoms 68 forming continuations of the bevel of thepunch 59. By this arrangement a jamming of the plate 58 and the punch 59is obviated. The plate 58 striking the bevel is deflected downwardly andfinally passes under the bottom surface of the punch.

On the stationary cross bar 69 is mounted a guide member 70 for aroller71 on the punch 59. This element has an angular portion 70 at the topthrough which a sci screw 70* is adjustable toward and away from theupper surface of cross bar 69. Througn a channel 72 a bolt 7 3 extendsinto engagement with the guide member 70. The channel 72 has sutficientextent in vertical direction to permit. a limited vertical adjustment ofthe bolt and the guide member. When the bolt is loosened, the set screw7 (l may be turned to adjust the guide member 70 and then the bolt maybe drawn up to ii the guide member in adjusted position. The guidemember has at its bottom a toe 74* During the: downward movement of thepunch 59 the roller 71 rolls along the surface of the guide member 7 (land thereby maintains the punch in contact with the frame 50, the outersurface of which is in vertical alignment with the end surface of theprojection 38. The roller 71 comes into contact with the beveled surfaceof the toe 7 4: as the punch arrives at the end of its stroke. Theadjustment of the guide member 70 may be accurately made by means of theset screw 7 (l and the bolt 73 so that at the very end of its stroke thepunch 59 is tightly pressed against the folded portion of the metalsheet and the end face of the projection 38.

The folding mechanism for effecting the side folds 36 and 37 issubstantially identical.

Having reference to Fig. 7, the arrangement indicates the relativeposition of the parts immediately after the former plate 33 and theclamping frame 50 have been lowered to clamping position. The edgeportion of the metal sheet projects beyond the edge of the table 11.

The crimper tongue 75 is mounted at the front end of a folder frame 76which has at its rear end a guide 77 defining a guideway 77 co-operatingwith the crank shaft 78 to permit reciprocating sliding movement as wellas pivotal movement of the folder frame 76. The forward portion of thefolder frame 76 is supported by means of rollers 79 in cam grooves 80provided in opposite sides of a housing 81. The folder frame isreciprocated by connecting rods rounected to crank 78 of the crank shaft78. At the forward end of the holder frame is also mounted a roller 83below the criniper tongue 75. The cam grooves 80 have a horizontalportion in the rear part of the housing and an upwardly curved portionin the front part thereof. From the position of the crank at the end ofits back stroke to the position indicated in Fig. 7 the rollers 79 movethrough the horizontal portion of the cam grooves and the crimper tonguejust passes underneath the ed e of the metal. sheet. During continuedmovement of the crank the rollers 79 pass through the curved portion ofthe cam grooves 80 causing the criinper tongue to graduallyrise, therebyfolding the edge portionof the metal sheet overthe edge of theformerplate 33.

forward end of the folder frame of undue bending stresses, the pressureroller 83 has been provided. The roller 83 bears a ainst 1 t3 the underside of the projection 8 while the crimper' tongue-'55 slides over thefolded I portion 36 of the sheet.

The mechanism for effecting the fold 37 comprises a crimper tongue 85,a'pressureroller 86, a housing 8'? containing cam grooves 88, aconnecting rod 89, crank and crank shaft 91, exactly as the mechanismfor effecting the fold 36, with the distinction, however, that therelative position of the tongue and the pressure rollerare reversed andthe cam grooves 88 are curved downwardly. The tongue 85 passes over theunderside of the projection 39 of the table 11, and the roller over ahorizontal surface on the clamping frame 50, said sur face beingprovided by arecess 92 in the side of the frame 50.

The crank shafts referred to are mounted in bearings upon the supportingframe 10, and are interconnected for interdependent operation tosubstantially simultaneously eflect the different folds during therelatively long interval during which the feeding and ejectingmechanismare at rest. In practice the crank shafts 51, 61, 78 and 91 areinterconnected by bevel gears shown) as is well understood and similar,in

general way, to the arrangement of intergeared shafts shown in thepatent to Gustin, No. 3 13,270, dated June 8, 1886.

The crimper punches 57 and 59 are operatedwthrough connecting rods 94''and '95, respectively, from crank disks 96 and 97 mounted upon shafts 98and 99', respectively. The shafts 98 and 99 are mounted in bearingsprovided in an upward extension 12 of the frame 12. The central web 12ofthis extension has an opening 12 through which extends a bar 100 toopposite ends of which are connected rods 101 and 102 supporting theclamping frame 50.

Through the web 12 extends upwardly a rod 108 connected at its lower endto the bar 100. Between the upper end of the rod 103 and the frameextension 12 is interposed a spring 101 tending to lift the clampingframe 50. Thecrank disks 96'and 97 are peripherally formed ascams foractuat (not ing the cross bar- 100 and the clamping:

frame 5'0;sup;port ed thereby. Tliedisks-96 and 97 have a comparativelyshort cam face 96 and: 9.?of small-radius, "and a comparati ve-lyextended cam' surface 96 and 97- of" larger radius, respectively.During-one revolution of the shafts 98" and 99, the; clamp ing frame 50is therefore maintained in clamping position during the greater part.

ing operations are completed" and the finished shingle is about to beejected" concurrently with the feeding of anothermetal to pass out ofcontacfiwith the bar 100 allowing the latter to rise under the action ofspring 104.

At the-same time the crank pins- 943 and ust pass their lowest positionsand, areabout to'risc lifting; the crimper p unches 5'9 and 5'5. The pin94 is sli-ghtlyin advance of the pin 95 and the end of cam face 96", sothat the punch 59 is lifted slightly in ad- Pit 2 sheet. The cam faces96 and 97 are about vance of the punch 5T-and the clamping frame 50,-allowing it toyclear the projection 38 and the finished shinglepreparatory to the ejection thereof.

'When thedisk 96 has'continued its rotary movement farenough for thepunch 59 to completely clear the pro'jectioni-ES and the upper surfaceof the finished shingle, the

cam face96 comes in contact with the bar and allows it toalmostinstantaneously rise, the shoulder between the-two camsur-v facesbeing steep and short;

Almost simultaneously with the recession of-the clamping frame and theformer plate, which is coincident therewith, the ejecting and feedingmechanism is set into action as previously described; i

Power may be transmitted from a prime mover (not shown). to the shaft110 and from this shaft motionmay be transmitted to the other shafts bymeans of the gears 111, 112,113,114, and 116.

In reality the mechanism contains two or more sets of dislrs96, 97, twoor more sets of rods 94, 95, 'twoor more sets of bars 100, and twoormore sets of rods, 101, 102, according to the width'of the roofingstrip or shingle to be formed.

In the foregoing I have fully described what I consider to be apreferred embodiment of the invention. I am fully aware, however, thatthe principle of operation 'o'utlined may find execution in variousother ways and by different mechanism. Iv

I claim:- 7

1. In a metal foldingmachinefor making shingles, the combination of atable, a

former plate, and mechanism operative to cyclically move theforinerplate toward and" including means for moving the plate diagonallyof the table and then away from the latter.

2. In a metal folding machine for making shingles, the combination of atable, a former plate, and mechanism operative to cyclically move theformer plate diagonally of the table, then away from the table and thentoward the table to its original position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, includ ing means for periodicallyfeeding a sheet of metal between the table and the former plate whilethe latter is in raised position.

4-. In a metal folding machine for making shingles, the combination of atable, a former plate, mechanism operative to cyclically move the formerplate diagonally of the table, then away from the table and then towardthe table to its original position, means for periodically feeding asheet of metal between the table and the former plate while the latteris in raised position and means for folding adjacent edges of the sheetupwardly over the edges of the former plate while the latter is inlowered position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 includ ing two forming portions alongadjoining edges of the table and means for folding the remaining edgesof the sheet of metal downwardly over said portions.

6. In a metal folding machine for making shingles, the combination of atable, a former plate, resilient means tending to draw the plate awayfrom the table, means periodically operative to force the plate towardthe table against the action of said resilient means and mechanism forperiodically shifting the plate diagonally of the table, said mechanismbeing constructed and arranged to permit movement of the plate to wardand away from the table.

7 Apparatus according to claim 6 including means periodically operativeto feed a sheet of metal between the table and the former plate when thelatter is in a raised position.

8. In a metal fol-ding machine for mak ing shingles, the combination ofa table, a former plate, resilient means tending to draw the plate awayfrom the table, means periodically operative to force the plate towardthe table against the action of said resilient means, mechanism forperiodically shifting the plate diagonally of the table, said mechanismbeing constructed and arranged to permit movement of the plate towardand away from the table, means periodically operative to feed a. sheetof metal between the table and the former plate when the latter is in araised position and means for folding two adjacent edges of the sheet ofmetal upwardly over the former. plate while the latter is in loweredposition,-

0. Apparatus according to claim 8 includ ing former portions extendingalong adjoining edges of the table and means for folding the remainingedges of the sheet of metal downwardly over said forming portions.

10. in a metal folding machine for making shingles, the combination of atable, a former plate, resilient means tending to draw the plate awayfrom the table, means periodically operative to force the plate towardthe table against the action of said resilient means, mechanism forperiodically shifting the plate diagonally of the table, said mechanismbeing constructed and ar ranged to permit movement of the plate towardand away from the table, means periodically operative to feed a sheet ofmetal between the table and the former plate when the latter is in araised position, former portions extending along adjoining edges of thetable, means for folding two edges of the metal plate downwardly oversaid former portions and means for folding the remaining edges of themetal plate upwardly over the edges of the former plate, the two foldingmeans operating substantially simultaneously.

11. In a metal folding machine for making shingles, the combination of atable, a former plate, resilient means tending to draw the plate awayfrom the table, means periodically operative to force the plate towardthe table against the act-ion of said resilient means, mechanism forperiodically shifting the plate diagonally of the table, said mechanismbeing constructed and arranged to permit movement of the plate towardand away from the table, means periodically operative to feed a sheet ofmetal between the table and the former plate when the latter is in araised position, former portions extending along adjoining edges of thetable, means for folding two edges of the metal plate downwardly oversaid former portions, means for folding the remaining edges of the metalplate upward ly over the edges of the former plate and means operativeat the end of the folding operation to eject the folded sheet.

12. A metal folding machine for making shingles having lateral foldsfacing the opposite surfaces thereof and hav ng top and bottom foldsfacing the opposite surfaces thereof, respectively, comprising a tableand a former plate both of smaller area than the sheet of metal to befolded, two lateral projections on the table, means for feeding a sheetof metal between the former plate and the table, separate means forfolding two adjacent edge portions of the sheet upwardly over thecorresponding edges of the former plate, separate means for folding theother edge portions of the sheet downwardly over the said projectionsand means for ejecting the finished shingle,

7 l3.- A machine according to claim '12 in aportion of a sheet over theedge of the Y former plate and means for folding the free edge portionof the sheet down upon the crimper plate.

16. A machine according to claim 15 including means above the edge ofthe form er plate intercepting the movement of the free edge portion ofthe. sheet under the action of the crimper plate and thereby causingfolding of the free edge portion upon the crimper plate along the edgethereof and a setting punch movable substantially at right angle tothe'table for pressing the said free edge portion upon the crimperplate.-

17. *In a metal folding machine for making shingles having av folddefining a butt end, atable having a lateral projection the uppersurface of which is a continuation of the upper surface of the table andthe lower surfa e of which is substantially parallel with the uppersurface, means for clamping-a sheet to be folded upon the table, acrimper punch having movement at right angle to the table andoperativeto force a portion of the sheet against'the end face of thesaid projection, a crimper plate and means for moving the crimp'er plateto force the free end portion of the sheet against the under surface ofthesaid projection. 7'

18. A machine according to claim 17 including means for guiding thecrimper pun h in vertical direction in close prox imity to the-s'aid endface and means on erative substantially at Y the end of the crimperstroke of they punch to exert pressure against the'latter substantiallyat right angle 5 thereto.

19.-In a metal folding machine for makshingles having a fold defining abutt end, a table: having a lateral projection the upper surface ofwhich is a continuation of the uppersurface of the table and'the lowersurface of which is. substantially parallel-with theupper'surfaca meansfor clamping a sheet to be folded upon the table, acrimper punch havinga movement substantially at right angle to the table andtoperativetoforce a portion of the sheet against the end face of the saidprojection, a crimper plate, means for moving the same to force the freeend portion of the sheet against the under surface of the said.projection, means for guiding the crimper punch in vertical direction inclose proximity to the said end face and means operative substantiallyat the end of the crimper stroke of the punch to exert pressure againstthe latter in a direction to press itfirmly against the said end-face,the guiding means having a bevel and the punch carrying a roller sodisposed that at the end of the crimping stroke the roller is forced toride up on the bevel, I

20. A machineaccording to claim '17 -in-. cluding means operative toguide the crimp or plate near the end of its crimping stroke insubstantially horizontal direction in close proximity to the under sideof'tho said projection and means operative at the end of the crimperstroke to-force the crimper plate against the underside.

21 A machine according to claim 17 including means for guiding thecrimper plate during part of the crimper stroke to cause the front endthereof to overliethe edge portion of the sheet to be folded and thencause the said, front endto move downwardly bendingthe edge portion ofthe sheet along the edge offthe, projection.-

22. In a metal folding machine, a table, a former plate, means forpressingthe "form' or plate uponasheet upon the table and mechanism forfolding'anedge, portion Of j the sheet upon the former plate, saidmechanism including a crimper tool, means for moving the crimp'er toolin-a. generally horizontal direction toward and' away from the table andmeans for guiding the crimper tool'tomove under the said edge portion,then rise to bend; the edge portion upwardly along the edge of theformer plate? andthen o o r t e me pl te t fold the edg portion downupon the latter.

23; A machine according to claim'22 including. a pressureroller'connectedwith'the crimper tool and positioned below the-latter tepress upon the underside-of the table to draw the crimper tool upon the"upper s there In a metal folding-machine, a table having a lateralprojection the upper sur face of which is a continuation of the surfaceof the table and the lower surface of which is substantially'parallelthereto. and mechanism for folding. an edge portion of a sheet of metalabout the.- Said. projection, said mechanism including a crimper tool,means for moving. the toolii'n a generally horizontal directiontowardand away from the projection-and means for} guiding the tooltomove over the said edgeportionthen move downwardly tobend theedgeportion nwardly along; t ei pper edge of. prejeotion and then movehorizontally in close proximity to the lower surface of the projectionto fold the edge portion up against the latter.

25. A machine according to claim eluding a frame element having asubstantially horizontal upper face and a roller connected With thecrimper tool and disposed above the latter to bear upon the said face todraw the crimper tool against the underside of the projection.

26. In a metal folding machine, a table, a former plate, spring meanstending to lift the former plate from the table, means for forcing theformer plate doWn upon. the table against the action of the spring andmeans for shifting the former plate in its own plane in a generallydiagonal direction.

27. Construction according to claim 26 in Which said shifting means isconstructed and arranged to move the former plate parallel to tWoadjoining edges thereof.

28. In a metal folding machine, a table, a former plate, spring meanstending to lift the former plate from the table, means for forcing theformer plate down upon the table against the action of the spring, meansfor shifting the former plate in its own. plane in a generally diagonaldirection, said shifting means being constructed and arranged to movethe former plate substantially parallel to tWo adjoining edges thereofand including socket elements upon the upper surface of the formerplate, journal pins movable in vertical direction in the socket elementsand parallel motion mechanism connected to the pins.

29. In a metal folding machine a table, a former plate, a clamping framemovable in vertical direction for clamping the former plate upon thetable, means extending through the clamping frame and connected to theupper surface of the former plate for shifting the former plate in itsown plane, the connection loetvveen the shifting means and the platebeing arranged to permit vertical movement of the latter relatively tothe former and spring means independent of the clamping frame tending tolift the former plate from the table.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

LABAN ELLSWORTH JONES.

